Bed siderail apparatus

ABSTRACT

A patient support is provided having a frame, a mattress, and at least one siderail. The siderail includes a rail member and a coupler configured to permit raising and lower of the rail member between a lowered egress position and a raised blocking position.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.09/750,741, filed Dec. 29, 2000 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,658,680, titledHospital Bed, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated byreference herein.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to patient supports, such as hospitalbeds. More particularly, the present invention relates to siderails forpatient supports.

Hospital bed and other patient supports are known. Typically, suchpatient supports are used to provide a support surface for patients orother individuals for treatment, recuperation, or rest. Many suchpatient supports include a frame, a mattress supported on the frame, andsiderails configured to block egress of a patient from the mattress.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a patient support isprovided that includes a frame, a mattress supported by the frame, and asiderail supported by the frame. The siderail has a rail member and alinkage assembly. The linkage assembly is configured to permit movementof the rail member between a raised position blocking egress of apatient positioned on the mattress and a lowered position. The linkageassembly includes a first stationary cam member and a first rotary cammember positioned to contact the first stationary cam member to move therail member along a longitudinal axis in a first direction when the railmember is moved to the lowered position. The linkage assembly alsoincludes a second stationary cam member and a second rotary cam memberpositioned to contact the second stationary cam member to move the railmember along the longitudinal axis in a second direction opposite thefirst direction when the rail member is moved to the raised position.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a patient supportis provided that includes a frame, a mattress supported by the frame,and a siderail supported by the frame. The siderail has a rail memberand a coupler. The coupler is configured to permit movement of the railmember between a raised position blocking egress of a patient positionedon the mattress and a lowered position. The coupler includes a camassembly configured to move the rail member in a first direction duringmovement of the rail member.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a patient supportis provided that includes a frame, a mattress positioned over the frame,and a siderail. The siderail includes a rail member having alongitudinal axis and a linkage assembly configured to permit movementof the rail member between a raised position blocking egress of apatient positioned on the mattress and a lowered position permittingegress. The linkage assembly has a longitudinal axis that deviates frombeing perpendicular to and parallel with the longitudinal axis of therail member at all times during movement of the rail member from theraised to lowered position.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a patient supportis provided that includes a frame, a mattress supported by the frame,and a siderail. The siderail includes a rail member and a couplerconfigured to couple the rail member to the frame. The rail member has alongitudinal axis. The coupler is configured to rotate the rail memberabout an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation deviates from beingperpendicular to and parallel with the longitudinal axis of the railmember at all times during movement of the rail member from the raisedto lowered position.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a patient supportis provided that includes a frame, a mattress supported by the frame,and a siderail. The siderail includes a rail member having alongitudinal axis and a coupler configured to couple the rail member tothe frame and permit movement of the rail member between a raisedposition blocking egress of a patient positioned on the mattress and alowered position permitting egress. The coupler is configured to movethe rail member in a first longitudinal direction during all downwardmovement of the rail member from the raised position to the loweredposition.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a patient supportis provided that includes a frame, a mattress positioned over the frame,and a siderail. The siderail includes a rail member having alongitudinal axis and a coupler configured to permit movement of therail member between a raised position blocking egress of a patientpositioned on the mattress and a lowered position permitting egress. Thecoupler is configured to move the rail member in a first longitudinaldirection during lowering of the rail member to the lowered positionwithout moving in a second longitudinal direction opposite the firstlongitudinal direction.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a patient supportis provided that includes a frame, a mattress positioned over the frame,and a siderail. The siderail includes a rail member having alongitudinal axis and a coupler configured to couple the rail member tothe frame and to permit movement of the rail member between a raisedposition blocking egress of a patient positioned on the mattress and alowered position. The coupler is configured to move the rail member in alongitudinal direction and a sideways direction away from the mattressduring movement of the rail member between the raised and loweredpositions.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a patient supportis provided that includes a frame, a mattress supported by the frame,and a siderail. The siderail includes a rail member and a couplerconfigured to permit rotation of the rail member about an axis ofrotation between a raised position and a lowered position. The axis ofrotation deviates from being horizontal when the mattress is in a flatbed position.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a patient supportis provided that includes a frame, a mattress supported by the frame,and a siderail. The siderail includes a rail member having a firstlongitudinal axis and a linkage assembly. The linkage assembly isconfigured to support the rail member on the frame and to have a secondlongitudinal axis. The linkage assembly is configured to permit rotationof the rail member about an axis of rotation. The axis of rotation andthe second longitudinal axis of the linkage assembly each have alongitudinal component relative to the first longitudinal axis.

Additional features of the present invention will become apparent tothose skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detaileddescription of the preferred embodiment exemplifying the best mode ofcarrying out the invention as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is side elevation view of a bed showing the bed including a framehaving a deck with a head section thereof titled relative to theremainder of the frame and a head end siderail in a raised position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the head end siderail in alowered position;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the head end siderail taken alongline 3—3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is side elevation view of a portion of the head end siderail inthe raised position showing the siderail including a pair ofspaced-apart links pivotably coupled to a longitudinally extended rod,the rod including two pairs of cylindrical cam members, and each linkincluding a pair of spaced-apart cylindrical cam members positioned tocontact the cylindrical cam members of the rod;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the siderail translated tothe right when in the lowered position;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a second embodiment siderail in a raisedblocking position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 8 of the siderail in a lowered egressposition; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the second embodiment siderail showingthe siderail including a linkage assembly coupled to the frame and arail member, with portions broken away, coupled to the linkage assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

As shown in FIG. 1, a hospital bed 10 is provided including a frame 11positioned on the floor and including a sub-frame 12 and a upper frameor deck 14 supported by sub-frame 12, a mattress 13 positioned on deck14, a headboard 16 coupled to sub-frame 12, a footboard 18 coupled todeck 14, and a pair of split siderails 20, 21 coupled to sub-frame 12.Sub-frame 12 is configured to raise and lower deck 14 relative to thefloor and to move deck 14 to the Trendelenburg position and the ReverseTrendelenburg position.

As shown in FIG. 1, sub-frame 12 includes a rectangular lower framemember or base frame 32, a plurality of casters 50 coupled to base frame32 to permit hospital bed 10 to be rolled about a care facility, arectangular upper frame member or intermediate frame 52, a linkagesystem 54 coupled to intermediate and base frames 52, 32 to permitrelative motion therebetween, and an actuator system providing power toactuate linkage system 54 and move upper member 52 relative to baseframe 32. Linkage system 54 includes a pair of head links 58 pivotablycoupled to a head end 53 of intermediate frame 52 and slidably coupledto base frame 32, a pair of guide links 57 pivotably coupled torespective head links 58 and pivotably coupled to intermediate frame 52at a fixed pivot point, a pair of foot links 60 pivotably coupled to afoot end 55 of intermediate frame 52 and slidably coupled to base frame32, and a pair of guide links 62 pivotably coupled to respective footlinks 60 and pivotably coupled to intermediate frame 52 at a fixed pivotpoint.

Split siderails 20, 21 are pivotably coupled to respective head section24 of deck 14 and weigh frame 26. Each siderail 20, 21 is configured tomove between raised blocking positions, as shown in FIG. 1, and loweredegress positions, as shown in FIG. 2, to permit entry and egress ofpatients into and out of hospital bed 10. Each siderail 20, 21 includesa respective rail member 34, 36 and a coupler or linkage assembly 38, 40coupled between respective rail members 34, 36 and respective headsection 24 of deck 14 and weigh frame 26 that permit rail members 34, 36to be moved between raised and lowered positions.

Linkage assembly 38 includes a first link 42 rigidly coupled torespective head section 24 of deck 14 and weigh frame 26, a pair ofcurved second links 44 pivotably coupled to first link 42, a third link46 pivotably coupled to second links 44, and a curved fourth link 48pivotably coupled to third and first links 42, 46. According toalternative embodiments of the present disclosure, other couplers areprovided such as “clocking” siderail linkage assemblies and othercouplers known to those of ordinary skill in the art for coupling a railmember to a bed frame.

First link 42 includes a base 64 coupled to intermediate weigh frame 26and four upwardly extending flanges 66 rigidly coupled to base 64 asshown in FIG. 4. Each second link 44 includes a first end 68 pivotablycoupled to flanges 66 by a rod 70 and a looped second end 72 pivotablycoupled to third link 46 by a rod 74 as shown in FIG. 3.

Third link 46 includes a base 76, a first pair of inwardly extendingflanges 78 coupled to base 76, and a second pair of inwardly extendingflanges 80 also coupled to base 76 as shown in FIG. 2. Rod 74 extendsbetween flanges 78 and through second ends 72 of second link 44 toprovide the pivotable connection therebetween.

As shown in FIG. 2, fourth link 48 includes a base 82 and alatch-receiving slot 84 formed in base 82. A first end 86 of base isslidably and pivotably coupled to second pair of flanges 80 of thirdlink 46 by a rod 88. A second end 90 of base 82 is pivotably coupled tothe lower ends of flanges 66 of first link 42 by a rod 92. Thus, linkageassembly 38 provides a four bar linkage permitting siderails 20, 21 toswing sideways between the raised and lowered positions.

Each siderail 20, 21 further includes a retainer 94 configured to “bind”the four bar linkage to prevent siderails 20, 21 from moving from theraised position to the lowered position. As shown in FIG. 3, retainer 94includes a Z-shaped latch member 96 positioned in latch-receiving slot84 and pivotably coupled to fourth link 48 by rod 98 to move between alatched position, as shown in FIG. 3, and an unlatched position and acatch rod 100 coupled to first link 42 by a pair of flanges 110. Rod 100extends between flanges 110 as shown in FIG. 6. Latch member 96 includesa first end 112 that engages catch rod 100 and a second end 114. Ahandle 116 is provided that is coupled to second end 114. First end 112includes a notch 118 configured to receive catch rod 100 therein tosecure latch member 96 in the latched position as shown in FIG. 3.

When first end 112 is latched onto catch rod 100, a three bar linkage isestablished between first link 42, latch member 96, and fourth link 48.This arrangement of linkages binds first link 42 relative to fourth link48 so that linkage assembly 38 is also bound from moving while latchmember 96 is in the latched position to prevent siderails 20, 21 fromswinging to the lower position.

To unbind linkage assembly 38 and permit siderails 20, 21 to swing tothe down position, latch member 96 must be moved from the latchedposition to the unlatched position. A caregiver can unlatch latch member96 by pulling downwardly and outwardly on handle 116 to pivot latchmember 96 in the clockwise direction. This movement pulls first end 112of latch member 96 away from catch rod 100 so that latch member 96 nolonger binds first and fourth links 42, 48.

As shown in FIG. 4, assembly 38 further includes a gas spring or dashpot120 coupled to first link 42 and third link 46. Gas spring 120 iscompressed when siderail 20, 21 is lowered to dampen the movement andprevent rapid lowering of rail member 34.

Because first and fourth links 42, 48 are free to pivot relative to oneanother, linkage assembly 38 is also unbound and free to permitsiderails 20, 21 to swing between the raised and lowered positions. Aspring 122 is provided between a middle portion of fourth link 48 and aspring mount 124 coupled to a middle portion of latch member 96 to biaslatch member 96 toward the latched position. According to alternativeembodiments of the present disclosure, other retainers are provided tohold the siderails in the raised position such as clasps, catches,locks, other latches, clamps, pins, bolts, bars, hasp, hooks, or otherretainers known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Head end siderails 21 are configured to move longitudinally, in thedirections of longitudinal axis 22, when raised and lowered. Whenlowered, head end siderail 21 moves in a first longitudinal direction126, shown in FIG. 4, by a distance 128 toward a head end of headsection 24 of deck 14. When raised, head end siderails 21 moves in asecond longitudinal direction 130, shown in FIG. 6, by distance 128 backtoward a foot end of head section 24.

The movement of siderails 20, 21 is also characterized by movement insideways directions 129, 131 as shown in FIG. 3. The sideways movementin directions 129, 131 and the raising and lowering movements ofsiderails 20, 21 in directions 133, 135 cooperate to define directions156, 158, respectively in which rail members 34, 36 travel duringraising and lowering. Therefore, the movement of siderails 20, 21between the raised and lowered positions have longitudinal components indirections 126, 130, as discussed above, along longitudinal axes 22 ofrail members 34, 36, up and down or vertical components, and sideways orhorizontal components in directions 129, 131.

According to an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure,clocking siderails are provided that have a cam assembly or sets of cammembers configured to move the respective rail member laterally orsideways relative to the mattress during raising and lowering of therail member. According to other alternative embodiments, cam members areprovided to move the rail member in other directions during raisingand/or lowering of the rail member.

By moving head end siderails 21 longitudinally when lowering, additionalclearance is provided between head end siderail 21 and foot end siderail20. Thus, when head section 24 of deck 14 is in the raised position (asshown in FIG. 2), foot end siderail 20 is in the raised position (asshown in FIG. 2), and head end siderail 21 is lowered from the raisedposition, rail member 34 of head end siderail 21 is pushed in direction128 so that contact with foot end siderail 20 is avoided.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, linkage assembly 38 of head end siderails 21includes a first set of cam members 132 and a second set of cam members134. Each set of cam members 132, 134 includes a pair of stationary cammembers 136, 138 rigidly coupled to flanges 66 of first links 42 and apair of rotary cam members 140, 142 rigidly coupled to first ends 68 ofsecond links 44. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, rod 70 extends throughrotary cam members 140, 142 to pivotably couple second links 44 to firstlinks 42. According to an alternative embodiment of the presentdisclosure, only one set of cam members are provided.

As shown in FIG. 5, each stationary cam member 136, 138 is a truncatedcylinder that has a first substantially flat end surface 144 coupled toflanges 66. Each respective stationary and rotary cam member 136, 138,140, 142 further includes an inclined cam surface 146, 148, 150, 152that cooperates with a longitudinal axis of rotation 154 of rod 70 todefine respective angles therebetween of approximately 45°.

As shown in FIG. 5, cam surfaces 146 of stationary cam members 136 aresubstantially parallel with and slightly spaced-apart from cam surfaces150 of rotary cam members 140 when head end siderail 21 is in the fullyraised position. Cam surfaces 148 of stationary cam members 138 arespaced-apart from cam surfaces 152 of rotary cam members 142 and definean angle of approximately 90° therebetween.

When handle 116 is pulled, head end siderail 21 moves towards thelowered position. During this movement, rail member 34, second links 44,and rotary cam members 140 rotate in a clockwise direction 156, as shownin FIG. 5, so that cam surfaces 150 of rotary cam members 140 move intocontact with cam surfaces 146 of stationary cam members 136. As shown inFIG. 6, continued rotation of rotary cam members 140 create forcesbetween rotary cam members 140 and stationary cam members 136. Theseforces push rotary cam members 140, second links 44, and rail member 34of head end siderail 21 in direction 126. When head end siderail 21 ismoved to the lowered position, rail member 34 is pushed toward the headend of head section 24 by distance 128, as shown in FIG. 5.

As previously mentioned, third link 46 is slidably coupled to fourthlink 48 by rod 88. During movement of rail member 34 of head endsiderail 21 in direction 126, fourth link 48 does not movelongitudinally so that third link 46 and rail member 34 slides relativeto fourth link 48.

When head end siderail 21 is initially moved toward the raised position,cam surfaces 148 of stationary cam members 138 are slightly spaced-apartfrom cam surfaces 152 of rotary cam members 142. Cam surfaces 146 ofstationary cam members 136 are slightly spaced-apart from cam surfaces150 of rotary cam members 140.

As head end siderail 21 is moved further toward the raised position,rail member 34, second links 44, and rotary cam members 140 rotate in acounterclockwise direction 158, as shown in FIG. 5, so that cam surfaces148 of stationary cam members 138 move into contact with cam surfaces152 of rotary cam members 142. Continued rotation of rotary cam members140 creates forces between rotary cam members 142 and stationary cammembers 138. These forces push rotary cam members 142, second links 44,and rail member 34 of head end siderail 21 in direction 130. During thismovement, third link 46 and rail member 34 slides relative to fourthlink 48 in direction 130.

As shown in FIG. 4, cam surfaces 146 of stationary cam members 136 aresubstantially parallel with and slightly spaced-apart from cam surfaces150 of rotary cam members 140 when head end siderail 21 is back to thefully raised position. Cam surfaces 148 of stationary cam members 138are spaced-apart from contact cam surfaces 152 of rotary cam members 142and define an angle of approximately 90° therebetween.

According to alternative embodiments of the present disclosure, otherconfigurations of siderails that move in a longitudinal direction duringraising and lowering are provided. These alternative embodimentsincludes other configurations of cam members, links, belts, cable,pulleys, or other mechanisms known to those of ordinary skill in the artfor creating movement of a member in one direction based on movement ofthe same or another member in another direction.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 6-8, another embodiment of the disclosureprovides a hospital bed 310 including sub-frame 12 positioned on thefloor, deck 14 coupled to sub-frame 12, a mattress 13 positioned on deck14, headboard 16 coupled to sub-frame 12, footboard 18 coupled to deck14, and a pair of split siderails 320, 321 coupled to frame 11.Sub-frame 12 is configured to raise and lower deck 14 relative to thefloor and to move deck 14 to the Trendelenburg position and the ReverseTrendelenburg position.

Split siderails 320, 321 include respective rail members 340, 341 andcouplers or linkage assemblies 342 coupled between respective railmembers 340, 341 and intermediate frame 52 that permit rail members 340,341 to be moved between raised and lowered positions as shown in FIGS. 7and 6. As shown in FIG. 8, linkage assemblies 342 each include a firstlink 344 rigidly coupled to intermediate frame 52, a pair of curvedsecond links 346 pivotably coupled to first link 344, a third link 348pivotably coupled to second links 346, and a curved fourth link 350pivotably coupled to third and first links 344, 348. Each of second 346and fourth 350 links has a longitudinal axis 347, 351 that cooperate todefine a general longitudinal axis 343 of linkage assembly 342. Railmembers 340, 341 are coupled to third link 348.

Linkage assemblies 342 are fixed to intermediate frame 52 such that thelongitudinal axes of second 346 and fourth 350 links are notperpendicular to a plane defined by intermediate frame 52 that isparallel to a plane defined by the patient support surface of mattress13. In the raised position, longitudinal axis 343 of linkage assembly342 has a vertical component parallel to vertical axis 400 and alongitudinal and horizontal component parallel to longitudinal axis 398of rail member 340. Therefore, longitudinal axis 343 of linkage assembly342 is not parallel with or perpendicular to longitudinal axis 398 ofrail member 340.

First link 344 includes a base 352 coupled to intermediate frame 52 byfasteners 140 and four angled upwardly extending flanges 354 rigidlycoupled to base 352. Each second link 346 includes a looped first end356 pivotably coupled to flanges 354 by a rod 358 and a looped secondend 360 pivotably coupled to third link 348 by a rod 362 as shown inFIG. 8. Rods 358, 362 are perpendicular to angled flanges 354 and notparallel to the plane of the intermediate frame 52. Further, secondlinks 346 are perpendicular to rods 358, 362 such that first link 344 isnot aligned directly above or below third link 348 when rail 320, 321 isin the raised or lowered position. Rather, third link 348 islongitudinally displaced toward or away from headboard 16 or footboard18 relative to first link 344.

Third link 348 includes a base plate 364, a first pair of angledinwardly extending flanges 366 coupled to base plate 364, and a secondpair of angled inwardly extending flanges 368 also coupled to base plate364 as shown in FIG. 8. Rod 362 extends between flanges 366 and throughsecond ends 360 of second link 346 to provide the pivotable connectiontherebetween.

As shown in FIG. 8, fourth link 350 includes a base 370 and alatch-receiving slot 372 formed in base 370. A first end 374 of the base370 is pivotably coupled to second pair of flanges 368 of third link 348by a rod 376. Similarly, a second end 377 of base 370 is pivotablycoupled to the lower ends of flanges 354 of first link 344 by a rod 378.Thus, linkage assembly 342 provides a four bar linkage permittingsiderails 320, 321 to swing sideways between raised and loweredpositions.

As previously stated, linkage assemblies 342 are fixed to theintermediate frame 52 such that longitudinal axes 343 of linkageassemblies 342 are not perpendicular to a plane defined by intermediateframe 52. Therefore, as siderails 320, 321 swing between raised andlowered positions, siderails 320, 321 travel longitudinally indirections 324, 326. Second links 346 and fourth links 350 rotate aboutrods 358, 378. As shown in FIG. 8, rods 358 and 378 each have an axis ofrotation 359, 379 that cooperate to define an overall axis of rotation345 for linkage 342. The overall axis of rotation 345 has a verticalcomponent in direction 393 parallel with vertical axis 400 and alongitudinal horizontal component in direction 324 parallel withlongitudinal axis 398 of rail member 340. Therefore, axis of rotation345 is not parallel with or perpendicular to longitudinal axis 398 ofrail member 340 at any time when rail member 340 is stationary or duringmovement between the raised and lowered positions. Further, whenmattress 13 is in a flat bed position, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, axisof rotation 345 is not horizontal.

Each siderail 320, 321 further includes a retainer 380 configured tobind the four bar linkage to prevent siderails 320, 321 from moving fromthe raised position to the lowered position. As shown in FIG. 8,retainer 380 includes a Z-shaped latch member 382 positioned inlatch-receiving slot 372 and pivotably coupled to fourth link 350 by rod384 to move between a latched position, as shown in FIG. 8 and anunlatched position. The retainer 380 also includes a catch rod 386coupled to first link 344. Rod 386 extends between angled flanges 354 offirst links 344. Rod 386 is parallel to rods 358, 378, 384 and notparallel with the plane of intermediate frame 52. Latch member 382includes a first end 388 that engages catch rod 386 and a second end390. A patient-inaccessible release or handle 392 is provided that iscoupled to second end 390. First end 388 includes a notch 394 configuredto receive catch rod 386 therein to secure latch member 382 in thelatched position as shown in FIG. 8.

When first end 388 is latched onto catch rod 386, a three bar linkage isestablished between first link 344, latch member 382, and fourth link350. This arrangement of linkages binds first link 344 relative tofourth link 350 so that linkage assembly 342 is also bound from movingwhile latch member 382 is in the latched position to prevent siderails320, 321 from swinging to the lowered position.

As previously discussed, when siderails 320, 321 swing into the loweredposition, the downward movement is accompanied by longitudinal movementas shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. The longitudinal movement associated withdownward movement for head end siderail 321 is typically towardsheadboard 16 in direction 324 without any return movement in direction326. Preferably, downward movement for head end siderail 321 isassociated with longitudinal movement towards the headboard 16 indirection 324. The longitudinal movement associated with the downwardmovement of foot end siderail 320 is typically toward footboard 18 indirection 326. Preferably, similar to head end siderail 321, alldownward movement the foot end siderail 320 is associated withlongitudinal movement towards the footboard 18 in direction 326 withoutany return movement in direction 324. All upward movement of siderails320, 321 is then associated with longitudinal movement in the direction324, 326 opposite the longitudinal movement experienced during downwardmovement. Alternatively, upward and downward movement of siderails 320,321 is characterized by longitudinal movement primarily in one direction324, 326 but with some return movement in the opposite direction 326,324. When both siderails 320, 321 are lowered, each is displaced awayfrom a midpoint 400 between head board 16 and foot board 18. Thisdisplacement creates a space between the lowered siderails 320, 321allowing access to the area beneath the mattress 13. This displacementalso allows access to any foot controls or other devices that may belocated on the frame like those disclosed in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/750,741, entitled Hospital Bed, to Osborne et al., thedisclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

According to other embodiments, it is not necessary that linkageassembly 342 be utilized on both head end and foot end siderails 321,320. One of siderails 320, 321 employs linkage assembly 342 thatlongitudinally displaces rail member 340 and other siderail 320, 321employs a linkage assembly that does not longitudinally displace railmember 141, 143.

According to other embodiments, linkage assembly 342 is configured torotate 180° as it moves from the raised position to the loweredposition. Longitudinal axis 343 defined by linkage assembly 342 in theraised position is collinear with longitudinal axis 343 defined bylinkage assembly 342 in the lowered position.

In another embodiment, linkage assembly 342 is employed in bed 310 wheresiderails 320, 321 are attached to deck 14. By so attaching, siderails320 321 articulate with the section 22, 24, 26, or 28 of deck 14 towhich siderails 320, 321 are attached as respective section (22, 24, 26,28) are tilted relative to intermediate frame 52. In embodiments that donot employ linkage assembly 342, head end rails 321 may sometimes hitfoot end rails 320 when head end rails 321 are lowered from the raisedposition to the lowered position. By employing linkage assembly 342,head end rail 321 will move towards head board 16 as it is lowered,thereby allowing head end rail 321 to lower without contacting foot endrail 320.

According to alternative embodiments of the present disclosure, otherconfigurations of couplers are provided to provide longitudinal or othermovement during raising or lowering of the rail member. For example,according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, clocking linkagesare provided that have an axes of rotation that have a longitudinalcomponent in addition to a lateral component. Thus, when the rail memberis clocked from the raised position to the lowered position, the railmember moves laterally away from or toward the mattress.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference topreferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within thescope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A patient support comprising a frame, a mattresspositioned over the frame, and a siderail including a rail member havinga longitudinal axis and a linkage assembly configured to rotate about anaxis of rotation to permit movement of the rail member between a raisedposition blocking egress of a patient positioned on the mattress and alowered position permitting egress, the linkage assembly having alongitudinal axis deviating from being perpendicular to and deviatingfrom being parallel with the longitudinal axis of the rail member at alltimes during movement of the rail member from the raised position to thelowered position.
 2. The patient support of claim 1, wherein alongitudinal axis of the linkage assembly when the rail member is in theraised position is collinear with the longitudinal axis of the linkageassembly when the rail member is in the lowered position.
 3. The patientsupport of claim 1, wherein the linkage assembly rotates about an axisof rotation that deviates from being perpendicular to and deviates frombeing parallel with the longitudinal axis of the rail member at alltimes during movement of the rail member from the raised position to thelowered position.
 4. The patient support of claim 1, wherein the axis ofrotation has a component that is vertical and a component that ishorizontal when the mattress is in a flat bed position.
 5. The patientsupport of claim 1, wherein the linkage assembly is configured to movethe rail member in a first longitudinal direction during all downwardmovement of the rail member from the raised to lowered position.
 6. Thepatient support of claim 5, wherein the linkage assembly is configuredto move the rail member in a second longitudinal direction during allupward movement of the rail member from the lowered position to theraised position, the second longitudinal direction is opposite the firstlongitudinal direction.
 7. A patient support comprising a frame, amattress supported by the frame, and a siderail including a rail memberand a coupler configured to couple the rail member to the frame, therail member having a longitudinal axis, the coupler being configured torotate the rail member about an axis of rotation from a raised positionto a lowered position, the axis of rotation deviating from beingperpendicular and deviates from being parallel with the longitudinalaxis of the rail member at all times during rotation of the rail memberfrom the raised position to the lowered position, the axis of rotationdefining a plane that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the railmember.
 8. The patient support of claim 7, wherein the axis of rotationof the rail member deviates from being horizontal when the mattress isin a flat bed position.
 9. The patient support of claim 7, wherein theaxis of rotation of the rail member includes a horizontal component anda vertical component.
 10. The patient support of claim 7, wherein thecoupler is configured to move the rail member sideways away from themattress and longitudinally during movement of the rail member to thelowered position.
 11. A patient support comprising a frame, a mattresssupported by the frame, and a siderail including a rail member and acoupler configured to couple the rail member to the frame, the railmember having a longitudinal axis, the coupler being configured torotate the rail member about an axis of rotation from a raised positionto a lowered position, the axis of rotation deviating from beingperpendicular and deviates from being parallel with the longitudinalaxis of the rail member at all times during rotation of the rail memberfrom the raised position to the lowered position, the coupler includinga linkage assembly having a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis ofthe linkage assembly when the rail member is in the raised position iscollinear with the longitudinal axis of the linkage assembly when therail member is in the lowered position.
 12. A patient support comprisingframe, a mattress supported by the frame, and a siderail including arail member and a coupler configured to couple the rail member to theframe, the rail member having a longitudinal axis, the coupler beingconfigured to rotate the rail member about an axis of rotation from araised position to a lowered position, the axis of rotation deviatingfrom being perpendicular and deviates from being parallel with thelongitudinal axis of the rail member at all times during rotation of therail member from the raised position to the lowered position, thecoupler being configured to move the rail member in a first longitudinaldirection during all downward movement of the rail member from theraised position to the lowered position.
 13. The patient support ofclaim 12, wherein the coupler is configured to move the rail member in asecond longitudinal direction during all upward movement of the railmember from the lowered position to the raised position, the secondlongitudinal direction being opposite the first longitudinal direction.14. A patient support comprising a frame, a mattress supported by theframe, and a siderail including a rail member having a longitudinal axisand a coupler configured to couple the rail member to the frame andpermit movement of the rail member between a raised position blockingegress of a patient positioned on the mattress and a lowered positionpermitting egress, the coupler being configured to move the rail memberin a first longitudinal direction during all downward movement of therail member from the raised position to the lowered position andmovement of the rail member changes a distance between the rail memberand the mattress.
 15. The patient support of claim 14, wherein thecoupler is configured to move the rail member in a second longitudinaldirection during all upward movement of the rail member from the loweredposition to the raised position, the second longitudinal direction isopposite the first longitudinal direction.
 16. The patient support ofclaim 14, wherein the coupler includes a linkage assembly including alongitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis of the linkage assembly whenthe rail member is in the raised position is collinear with thelongitudinal axis of the linkage assembly when the rail member is in thelowered position.
 17. A patient support comprising a frame, a mattresssupported by the frame, and a siderail including a rail member having alongitudinal axis and a coupler configured to couple the rail member tothe frame and permit movement of the rail member between a raisedposition blocking egress of a patient positioned on the mattress and alowered position permitting egress, the coupler being configured to movethe rail member in a first longitudinal direction during all downwardmovement of the rail member from the raised position to the loweredposition, the coupler configured to move the rail member sideways awayfrom the mattress and longitudinally during movement of the rail memberto the lowered position.
 18. A patient support comprising a frame, amattress supported by the frame, and a siderail including a rail memberhaving a longitudinal axis and a coupler configured to couple the railmember to the frame and permit movement of the rail member between araised position blocking egress of a patient positioned on the mattressand a lowered position permitting egress, the coupler being configuredto move the rail member in a first longitudinal direction during alldownward movement of the rail member from the raised position to thelowered position, the coupler rotating the rail member about an axis ofrotation that deviates from being perpendicular and deviates from beingparallel with the longitudinal axis of the rail member at all timesduring movement of the rail member from the raised position to thelowered position.
 19. A patient support comprising a frame, a mattresssupported by the frame, and a siderail including a rail member having alongitudinal axis and a coupler configured to couple the rail member tothe frame and permit movement of the rail member between a raisedposition blocking egress of a patient positioned on the mattress and alowered position permitting egress, the coupler being configured to movethe rail member in a first longitudinal direction during all downwardmovement of the rail member from the raised position to the loweredposition, the coupler rotating the rail member about an axis of rotationthat deviates from being horizontal.
 20. A patient support comprising aframe, a mattress supported by the frame, and a siderail including arail member having a longitudinal axis and a coupler configured tocouple the rail member to the frame and permit movement of the railmember between a raised position blocking egress of a patient positionedon the mattress and a lowered position permitting egress, the couplerbeing configured to move the rail member in a first longitudinaldirection during all downward movement of the rail member from theraised position to the lowered position, the rail member rotating-aboutan axis of rotation that has a horizontal component and verticalcomponent when the mattress in a flat bed position.
 21. A patientsupport comprising a frame, a mattress positioned over the frame, and asiderail including a rail member having a longitudinal axis and acoupler configured to permit movement of the rail member between araised position blocking egress of a patient positioned on the mattressand a lowered position permitting egress, the coupler being configuredto move the rail member in a first longitudinal direction duringlowering of the rail member to the lowered position without moving in asecond longitudinal direction opposite the first longitudinal direction,the coupler being configured to move the rail member sideways away fromthe mattress during lowering of the rail member.
 22. The patient supportof claim 21, wherein the rail member rotates about an axis of rotationthat deviates from being perpendicular and deviates from being parallelwith the longitudinal axis of the rail member at all times duringmovement of the rail member from the raised position to the loweredposition.
 23. The patient support of claim 21, wherein the rail memberrotates about an axis of rotation that deviates from being horizontalwhen the mattress is in a fiat bed position.
 24. The patient support ofclaim 21 wherein the coupler is configured to move the rail member inthe second longitudinal direction during raising of the rail member tothe raised position without moving in the first longitudinal direction.25. A patient support comprising a frame, a mattress positioned over theframe, and a siderail including a rail member having a longitudinal axisand a coupler configured to couple the rail member to the frame and topermit movement of the rail member between a raised position blockingegress of a patient positioned on the mattress and a lowered position,the coupler being configured to move the rail member in a longitudinaldirection and a sideways direction away from the mattress duringmovement of the rail member between the raised and lowered positions,the lowered position placing the rail member outside a footprint of theframe.
 26. The patient support of claim 25, wherein the rail memberrotates about an axis of rotation during movement between the raised andlowered position and the axis of rotation has a longitudinal component.27. The patient support of claim 26, wherein the axis of rotation has ahorizontal component.
 28. The patient support of claim 25, wherein thecoupler includes a set of cam members that interact during movement ofthe rail member between the raised and lowered positions to move therail member in the longitudinal direction.
 29. The patient support ofclaim 25, wherein the linkage assembly rotates about an axis of rotationthat deviates from being perpendicular to and deviates from beingparallel with the longitudinal axis of the rail member at all timesduring movement of the rail member from the raised position to thelowered position.
 30. The patient support of claim 25, wherein thelinkage assembly rotates about an axis of rotation that deviates frombeing horizontal when the mattress is in a flat bed position.
 31. Thepatient support of claim 30, wherein the axis of rotation has acomponent that is vertical and a component that is horizontal when themattress is in a flat bed position.
 32. A patient support comprising aframe, a mattress positioned over the frame, and a siderail including arail member having a longitudinal axis and a coupler configured tocouple the rail member to the frame and to permit movement of the railmember between a raised position blocking egress of a patient positionedon the mattress and a lowered position, the coupler being configured tomove the rail member in a longitudinal direction and a sidewaysdirection away from the mattress during movement of the rail memberbetween the raised and lowered positions, the coupler being configuredto move the rail member in a first longitudinal direction during alldownward movement of the rail member from the raised to loweredposition.
 33. A patient support comprising a frame, a mattresspositioned over the frame, and a siderail including a rail member havinga longitudinal axis and a coupler configured to couple the rail memberto the frame and to permit movement of the rail member between a raisedposition blocking egress of a patient positioned on the mattress and alowered position, the coupler being configured to move the rail memberin a longitudinal direction and a sideways direction away from themattress during movement of the rail member between the raised andlowered positions, the coupler including a 4-bar linkage assembly.
 34. Apatient support comprising a frame, a mattress positioned over theframe, and a siderail including a rail member having a longitudinal axisand a coupler configured to couple the rail member to the frame and topermit movement of the rail member between a raised position blockingegress of a patient positioned on the mattress and a lowered position,the coupler being configured to move the rail member in a longitudinaldirection and a sideways direction away from the mattress duringmovement of the rail member between the raised and lowered positions, alongitudinal axis of the linkage assembly when the rail member is in theraised position being collinear with the longitudinal axis of thelinkage assembly when the rail member is in the lowered position.
 35. Apatient support comprising a frame, a mattress supported by the frame,and a siderail including a rail member and a coupler configured topermit rotation of the rail member about an axis of rotation between araised position and a lowered position, the axis of rotation deviatingfrom being horizontal when the mattress is in a flat bed position, andthe axis of rotation defining a plane parallel to a plane defined by aside of the patient support.
 36. The patient support of claim 35,wherein the rail member includes a longitudinal axis and the rail membermoves in a longitudinal direction when moved between the raised andlowered positions.
 37. The patient support of claim 36, wherein railmember moves sideways away from the mattress when moved between theraised and lowered positions.
 38. The patient support of claim 35,wherein the rail member includes a longitudinal axis that deviates frombeing parallel with the axis of rotation.
 39. A patient supportcomprising frame, a mattress supported by the frame, and a siderailincluding a rail member and a coupler configured to permit rotation ofthe rail member about an axis of rotation between a raised position anda lowered position, the axis of rotation deviating from being horizontalwhen the mattress is in a flat bed position, the rail member including alongitudinal axis that deviates from being parallel with the axis ofrotation, the coupler including a 4-bar linkage assembly.
 40. A patientsupport comprising a frame, a mattress supported by the frame, asiderail comprising a rail member having a first longitudinal axis and alinkage assembly configured to support the rail member on the frame, thelinkage assembly having a second longitudinal axis and being configuredto permit rotation of the rail member about an axis of rotation, theaxis of rotation and the second longitudinal axis of the link assemblyhaving a longitudinal component relative to the first longitudinal axis,and the axis of rotation failing to include a sideways component. 41.The patient support of claim 40, wherein the axis of rotation has avertical and horizontal component when the mattress is in a flat bedposition.
 42. The patient support of claim 40, wherein the axis ofrotation deviates from being horizontal when the mattress is in a flatbed position.
 43. The patient support of claim 40, wherein the secondlongitudinal axis of the linkage assembly includes vertical andhorizontal components when the mattress is in a flat bed position. 44.The patient support of claim 43, wherein the rail member moves sidewaysaway from the mattress and longitudinally when moved to the loweredposition.